Wound Care and Ostomy Training Programs
For Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians
Wound Treatment Associate Program Overview
Acknowledging the ever-growing demand for wound care services, Heale Wound Care is able to provide the WOCN Society’s wound treatment educational program that aims to:
1. Educate and prepare more skilled wound care providers.
2. Enhance the clinician’s ability to provide optimal care for patients with acute and chronic wounds as members of a collaborative wound care team.
3. Provide the non-specialty nurse/therapist with the ability to optimally care for patients with chronic or acute wounds under the direction of the certified wound nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician.
Accreditation: Participants who complete this course will be awarded 32.25 contact hours (for nurses). The course does not give the participant wound care certification, but does mean they can pursue this with the WOCN-CB. The requirements for certification with the WOCN-CB are successful course completion, a 16-hour practice requirement, and passing the WOCN-CB exam for WTA. The certification cost is $250 and is valid for 5 years (through the WOCN-CB).
Course Overview: The course made up of online power-point presentations and 3 live sessions with the course coordinator. There is an online workbook, review questions and reference list. There are helpful additional handouts and review questions. An internet connection is required and needs to be able to stream videos (YouTube). The course coordinator is ***a certified wound care nurse ***.
The course covers: Anatomy and physiology of the skin and guidelines for routine care. Pathology and prevention of partial thickness versus full thickness skin breakdown. Legal and regulatory issues. Risk assessment and pressure injury prevention. Wound healing physiology and implications for management. Wound assessment and documentation. Principles for wound management and rationale for product choices. Differential assessment and management of lower extremity ulcers.
The Clinical Skill competencies are:
Performing and interpreting an ankle brachial index (ABI)
Sensory testing with a Semmes-Weinstein monofilament with lower limb assessment
Application of a 2-layer, 3-layer, or 4-layer sustained compression wrap
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT)
Pressure ulcer risk assessment using Braden
Assessment of wound types and staging of pressure injuries
To pass the course and receive the course completion notice with contact hours, participants must:
1. Submit an evaluation of the educational program at the end of the course
2. Complete all online lessons in full
3. Attend all required live sessions with certified wound nurse
4. Achieve a score of 70% on the post-test/case scenario tests
5. Demonstrate satisfactory clinical skills at the completion of the course
*There is no partial credit: The participant must complete the entire educational experience.
Course outline please note distance learning is an option and currently distant ‘live’ session are authorized
Conference call, course enrollment with online workbook and schedule overview and WTA role outline
Lessons 1-5 self-directed online plus terminology and definition handouts
1st Live Session (6-8 hours) with course coordinator, covering (but not limited to):
NPIAP definitions, Risk assessment and care planning for pressure injury prevention
Principles of asepsis, Wound and pressure ulcer assessment practical
Prevention of skin tears and moisture associated skin damage
Ostomy care: the basics
Lessons 5-10 self-directed online
2nd Live Session (6-8 hours) with course coordinator, covering (but not limited to):
Skills demonstration and practice
Review of online material covered to this point
Components of a wound care regimen and dressing choices (hands-on)
Clinical scenario prep-test for patient with a pressure injury.
Lessons 11-14 self-directed online plus all competency videos
3rd Live Session (6-8 hours) with course coordinator:
Clinical scenario prep test for a patient with a lower extremity wound
Written multiple choice prep test
Clinical skills practice and demonstration of at least four out of the 6 competencies
Online tests: There are 2 two-hour open book, online, multiple choice papers that need to be taken within the time frame of the agreed schedule during weekdays between 9-4. Uninterrupted time must be organized for these.
The location of the next course is ***… *** If inclement weather cancels any live session, it will take place the following week at a mutually agreeable time. Distance learners will have customized schedules.
It is requested that where there is no WOCN working with a participant, that a licensed independent provider who is involved and interested in wound care, act as a supporting provider for the duration of the course. It is a short commitment of 20 minutes after the live sessions. The goal is to promote discussion and foster teamwork.
Once a participant successfully completes the curriculum, this will allow them to apply for certification as a WTA to the WOCN-CB (Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board). See above for accreditation requirements. It is not essential for those completing the course to go forward for certification, but those who do well will be encouraged to do so.
The cost of the course from Heale Wound Care ***remains $975 at this time *** and includes the online courses and any handouts or products used. Payment in full reserves a place for the next start date.
For more information, please visit WOCN’s page on the Wound Treatment Associate training program.
If you are interested in participating in the Wound Treatment Associate program, complete this application and mail payment of $975 to Heale Wound Care, *** … ***
If you have further questions, contact the course coordinator Melissa Porter at 802-249-4586 or melissa_jean44@yahoo.com
Please note the course is open to all nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians providing they are not newly qualified (2 years’ experience is preferred).
If you’re unable to apply online, you can download the form below and email it to melissa_jean44@yahoo.com
Application for Wound Treatment Associate course
Ostomy Care Associate Program Overview
Acknowledging the ever-growing demand for ostomy care services in all health care settings, Heale Wound Care is able to provide the WOCN Society’s ostomy educational program that aims to:
1. Educate and prepare more skilled ostomy care providers across all health care settings.
2. Enhance nurses’ ability to provide optimal care for patients with ostomies.
3. Give the non-specialty nurse the ability to provide optimal care for people with ostomies under the direction of a supervising certified ostomy nurse, physician, or nurse practitioner.
Accreditation: Participants who complete this course will be awarded 27 contact hours (for nurses).
Course Overview: Over the span of 10-12 weeks: The didactic lesson portion of the course is presented as online lectures that are self-paced PowerPoint slides/video. Review questions and reference handouts are provided following each lesson for the participant to review. An internet connection is required and needs to be able to stream videos (YouTube). Additionally, there are conference calls and live sessions to be agreed in advance with participants. The course coordinator is a certified wound, ostomy, and continence nurse (CWOCN). The location of the next course will be given on request. If inclement weather cancels any live session, it will take place the following week.
1. Initial conference call with course coordinator, covering (but not limited to):
Course introduction, overview, and schedule
Competency criteria
Communication channels
Review Sample Position Description for a nurse completing the OCA Program
Quality of life and an ostomy
Lessons 1-9 (self-directed online)
2. Live 6-8 hour session with course coordinator, covering (but not limited to):
Review of online material covered to this point
Skills demonstration and practice of many pouching systems and products
Peri-stomal complications
Scenario review
Lessons 10-13 (self-directed, online)
3. End of term live 6-8 hour session with course coordinator: Clinical skills competency for:
Exam preparation and review
Clinical Case Scenarios
Course competencies measuring, choosing and applying pouching systems
4. Online tests: Completion of a multiple choice exam and a scenario-based exam, each allocated 2 hours.
The course covers: Anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal and urinary systems guidelines for routine care.
The Clinical Skill competencies are:
Measuring a stoma and pouching
Management of a night drainage system
Colostomy irrigation
Fistula management
Stabilization of percutaneous tubes
To pass the course and receive the course completion notice with contact hours, participants must:
1. Submit an evaluation of the educational program at the end of the course
2. Complete all online lessons in full
3. Attend all required live sessions with certified ostomy nurse
4. Achieve a score of 70% on the post-test/case scenario test
5. Demonstrate satisfactory clinical skills at the completion of the course
*There is no partial credit: The participant must complete the entire educational experience.
It is requested that where there is no WOCN working with a participant, that a licensed independent provider who is involved and interested in ostomy care, act as a supporting provider to the participant for the duration of the course. It is suggested that this person spends 20-30 minutes with the participant after course coordinator sessions. The goal of this liaison is to provide an opportunity for discussion through the course and give providers a window into the approach taken and rationales for the standards of care put forward in the program.
Once a participant successfully completes the curriculum, this will allow them to apply for certification as a OCA to the WOCN-CB (Wound Ostomy Continence Nursing Certification Board) when the certification becomes available.
The cost of the course from Heale Wound Care is currently an introductory *** price of $975 and *** includes the online courses, work book, and any handouts or products used. Payment in full reserves a place for the next start date.
For more information, please visit WOCN’s page on the Ostomy Care Associate training program.
If you are interested in participating in the Ostomy Care Associate program, complete this application and mail payment *** of $975 to Heale Wound Care, contact the course coordinator Melissa Porter at 802-249-4586 or melissa_jean44@yahoo.com
Please note the course is open to all RN’s and LPN’s and occupational therapists (currently only nurses receive contact hours for this course) and nurse practitioners providing they are not newly qualified (2 years’ experience is preferred).
If you’re unable to apply online, you can download the form below and email it to: melissa_jean44@yahoo.com